<<Print>>

A group calling itself Ashanti youth for Development has said the activists of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) should be blamed for the leakage of a video recording in which President John Dramani mahama and the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu ii were captured on a dancing floor at a ceremony in Kumasi recently. According to the group, with Nana Kwame Owusu as their spokesperson, the gathering was made up of the king, the president and his top government officials; and the video could only have been circulated by these top government officials and NDC functionaries who were privileged to be at the function. The president�s ADC was seen also recording the event in the video footage that is currently circulating on the social media platform, with President Mahama saying that he had no regret over the �Yentie Obiaa� gettogether at the Manhyia palace. The video captures the number one gentlemen of the land and Ghana�s most powerful king dancing to Daddy Lumba�s popular song, �Yentie Obiaa� � drawing mixed reactions from the public. It was captured after President Mahama had commissioned the refurbished Kumasi Airport which has enabled night flights to and from Kumasi. Just as the discussion about the appropriateness of the video was dying down, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Joseph Yammin, rekindled the debate by chiding the people, including some sub-chiefs surrounding the Otumfuo for the leakage. At an NDC function at Adansi Asokwa, Mr. Yammin was reportedly unhappy about the leakage of a video tape and indicated his resolve as well as that of others to fight for the Asantehene, if Ashanti chiefs would not. As a result, the Ashanti Youth for Development has condemned the deputy minister for his posture on the matter saying, his statement was �unsavory and highlyirresponsible� and called for an apology with immediate effect. �We have taken note of some unsavory and highly irresponsible comments made by the deputy Ashanti Regional minister, Joseph Yamin, at an NDC function over the weekend. It is obvious stoking vicious ethnic and chieftaincy fires for cheap political gain is the NDC�s stock in trade,� the group said in a statement. �At a typical NDC function, Yammin, before chiefs and enthusiastic NDC supporters, chanted that he was going to defend the Asantehene from what he refers to as insults on the King of Ashanti, if chiefs and subjects are failing to do so. �He went on to remind the gathering that although he was not an indigene of Ashanti, he was going to defend the revered monarch since natives have failed to do so. These comments coming from a deputy minister of the region on a political party platform is most irresponsible and again a glaring indication to draw the Ashanti stool into their diabolic political schemes,� the group noted. It said, �We must not treat it lightly for the following reasons: because �Joseph Yammin did not find anyother platform appropriate for his comments rather than an NDC function. �For Yammin to pledge such feigned and needless �solidarity� to the Ashanti monarch before teeming NDC supporters is highly irresponsible. Such statements only draw the revered king into petty partisan politicking and should be condemned.� The group continued �In buttressing his comments and claims, the deputy minister mentioned that the manner in which a video of the Asantehene and the president dancing to Lumba�s �Yentie Obiaa� tune got into public domain was an indication of efforts by some elements to spite the Ashanti king. �These comments are equally irresponsible and mischievous because, Mr Yammin forgot that the function at which the president danced with the king was a private one attended by top government and NDC officials. The videos could only have been circulated by these top government and NDC officials.� According to Ashanti Youth for Development, �For him to say that chiefs in the kingdom, like natives, are failing to protect the Asantehene is most divisive and an insult to our chiefs. Is it an attempt to pitch the king of Ashanti against his loyal chiefs and subjects?� The youth group added, �These are chiefs who have stayed loyal to the king at all material times. The attempt by Mr. Yammin to spite these chiefs must be condemned without equivocation.�